scholarly journals Responses of woody species to spatial and temporal ground water changes in coastal sand dune systems

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 3823-3832 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Máguas ◽  
K. G. Rascher ◽  
A. Martins-Loução ◽  
P. Carvalho ◽  
P. Pinho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ground Water ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Pinus Pinaster ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
Sand Dunes ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Dune Systems

Abstract. In spite of the relative importance of groundwater in costal dune systems, studies concerning the responses of vegetation to ground water (GW) availability variations, particularly in Mediterranean regions, are scarce. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to compare the responses of co-occurring species possessing different functional traits, to changes in GW levels (i.e. the lowering of GW levels) in a sand dune ecosystem. For that, five sites were established within a 1 km2 area in a meso-mediterranean sand dune ecosystem dominated by a Pinus pinaster forest. Due to natural topographic variability and anthropogenic GW exploitation, substantial variability in depth to GW between sites was found. Under these conditions it was possible to identify the degree of usage and dependence on GW of different plant species (two deep-rooted trees, a drought adapted shrub, a phreatophyte and a non-native woody invader) and how GW dependence varied seasonally and between the heterogeneous sites. Results indicated that the plant species had differential responses to changes in GW depth according to specific functional traits (i.e. rooting depth, leaf morphology, and water use strategy). Species comparison revealed that variability in pre-dawn water potential (Ψpre) and bulk leaf δ13C was related to site differences in GW use in the deep-rooted (Pinus pinaster, Myrica faya) and phreatophyte (Salix repens) species. However, such variation was more evident during spring than during summer drought. The exotic invader, Acacia longifolia, which does not possess a very deep root system, presented the largest seasonal variability in Ψpre and bulk leaf δ13C. In contrast, the response of Corema album, an endemic understory drought-adapted shrub, seemed to be independent of water availability across seasons and sites. Thus, the susceptibility to lowering of GW due to anthropogenic exploitation, in plant species from sand dunes, is variable, being particularly relevant for deep rooted species and phreatophytes, which seem to depend heavily on access to GW.

scholarly journals Responses of woody species to spatial and temporal ground water changes in coastal sand dune systems

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1591-1616 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Máguas ◽  
K. G. Rascher ◽  
A. Martins-Loução ◽  
P. Carvalho ◽  
P. Pinho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ground Water ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Pinus Pinaster ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Dune Systems

Abstract. In spite of the relative importance of groundwater in coastal dune systems, the number of studies concerning the responsiveness of vegetation to ground water (GW) variability, in particularly in Mediterranean regions, is scarce. In this study, we established 5 study sites within a meso-mediterranean sand dune Pinus pinaster forest on the Atlantic coast of Portugal, taking advantage of natural topographic variability and artificial GW exploitation, which resulted in substantial variability in depth to GW between microsites. Here we identify the degree of usage and dependence on GW of different plant functional groups (two deep-rooted trees, a drought adapted shrub, a phreatophyte and a non-native woody invader) and how GW dependence varied seasonally and between the heterogeneous microsites. Our results indicated that the plant species had differential responses to changes in GW depth according to specific functional traits (i.e. rooting depth, leaf morphology, and water use strategy). The species comparison revealed that variability in pre-dawn water potential (Ψpre) and bulk leaf δ13C was related to microsite differences in GW use in deep-rooted (Pinus pinaster, Myrica faya) and phreatophyte (Salix repens) species. However, such variation was more evident during spring rather than during summer drought. The exotic invader, Acacia longifolia, which does not possess a very deep root system, presented the largest seasonal variability in Ψpre and bulk leaf δ13C. In contrast, the response of Corema album, an endemic understorey drought adapted shrub, across seasons and microsites seemed to be independent of water availability. Thus, the susceptibility to changing GW availability in sand dune plant species is variable, being particularly relevant for deep rooted species and phreatophytes, which have typically been less exposed to GW fluctuations.

Macrofungi of sand dunes

1989 ◽  
Vol 96 ◽  
pp. 111-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Watling ◽  
M. Rotheroe
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
Sand Dunes ◽  
Dune Systems ◽  
Similarities And Differences

SynopsisOur knowledge of the macrofungi of British sand dune systems is outlined and similarities and differences are discussed, based both on intensive studies and scattered observations, particularly in Scotland and Wales. Comparisons are made with European sand dune communities, and much wider observations from as far afield as N.E. Australia and North America are presented. Several records new to Britain are documented.

Contrasting responses of native and alien plant species to soil properties shed new light on the invasion of dune systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 667-675
Author(s):  
Stefano Vitti ◽  
Elisa Pellegrini ◽  
Valentino Casolo ◽  
Giacomo Trotta ◽  
Francesco Boscutti
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Plant Invasion ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Dune Systems

Abstract Aims Among terrestrial ecosystems, coastal sandy dunes are particularly prone to alien plant invasion. Many studies related the invasion of dune habitats to anthropic causes, but less is known about the role of soil properties and plant traits in plant invasion. In this study, we tested the relationships between soil features and alien plant invasion in dune systems, focusing on the interplay between soil nutrients, soil salinity and plant functional traits. Methods Study sites were sandy barrier islands of the Marano and Grado lagoon (northern Adriatic Sea). One hundred plots (4 m × 4 m) were selected within 10 areas according to the main habitats occurring along the ecological gradient of dune system (foredune, backdune and saltmarsh). In each plot, we recorded all plant species occurrence and abundance and we collected a soil core. For each soil sample, soil texture, conductivity (as proxy of soil salinity), organic carbon and nitrogen content were analyzed and related to the species number and cover of native and alien plants. Variation of main reproductive and vegetative functional traits among habitats was also analyzed for both alien and native species. Important Findings Soil properties were strongly related to overall plant diversity, by differently affecting alien and native species pools. In backdune, the most invaded habitat, a high soil conductivity limited the number of alien species, whereas the content of soil organic carbon increased along with alien plant abundance, suggesting also the occurrence of potential feedback processes between plant invasion and soil. We found a significant convergence between native and alien plant functional trait spectra only in backdune habitat, where environmental conditions ameliorate and plant competition increases. Our findings suggest that in harsh conditions only native specialized plants can thrive while at intermediate conditions, soil properties gradient acts in synergy with plant traits to curb/facilitate alien plant richness.

Influence of Ammophila arenaria on half a century of vegetation change in eastern Tasmanian sand dune systems

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Hayes ◽  
Jamie B. Kirkpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Sand Dunes ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Ammophila Arenaria ◽  
Dune Systems ◽  
Shrub Invasion ◽  
Bare Sand ◽  
Marram Grass

There is strong observational evidence that marram grass Ammophila arenaria transforms vegetation when it invades temperate coastal sand dunes. Because of contemporaneous marram grass introduction, sea level rise, climate change and coastal land use change, we use control dune systems to test the hypotheses that marram grass displaces native sand-binding grasses, reduces the area of bare sand and facilitates shrub invasion. We mapped vegetation from aerial photographs at four times between 1948 and 2007 on four pairs of sand dune systems, with one of each pair being heavily invaded by marram grass during the period of observation. We calculated the transitions between cover types between times. On the dune systems with marram grass, dunes became taller and more regular, native sand-binders became rare, bare sand decreased in area and native shrubs colonised the stabilised dunes. In the absence of marram grass the dunes remained dynamic, with much bare sand. At two of these control sites, increases in wind strength and sea level may have facilitated the development of transgressive dunes and eroded the native sand-binders. At the remaining two control sites, native sand-binders created low incipient foredunes. Shrub invasion occurred at most control sites. We conclude that marram grass does displace native sand-binders and decrease the proportion of bare sand, but that shrub invasion is partly independent of its introduction.

Endophytic fungal diversity of 2 sand dune wild legumes from the southwest coast of India

2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 1015-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Seena ◽  
K R Sridhar
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Endophytic Fungi ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
Sand Dunes ◽  
Chaetomium Globosum ◽  
Malt Extract ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Colonization Frequency ◽  
Leaf Segments

Endophytic fungi of 3 age classes (seeds, seedlings, and mature plants) and 5 tissue classes (cotyledons, seed coats, roots, stems, and leaves) of coastal sand dune legumes Canavalia cathartica and Canavalia maritima were assessed by plating surface-sterilized segments on malt extract agar. Forty-six fungal taxa comprising 6 ascomycetes, 33 mitosporic fungi, 2 zygomycetes, and 5 sterile morphospecies were recovered. There was no significant difference in the colonization frequency of endophytes between plant species (p = 0.4098, Student's t test). Among the age classes, endophytic fungi colonized over 90% of seedlings and mature plants. Similarly, among tissue classes, endophytic fungi colonized over 90% of root, stem, and leaf segments. Diversity and richness of endophytic fungi were higher in C. cathartica than in C. maritima. Rarefaction curves revealed a "higher expected number of species" in mature plants of C. cathartica and seedlings of C. maritima, whereas it was highest in leaves of both plant species. The most dominant endophyte, Chaetomium globosum, colonized over 50% of the root, stem, and leaf segments of C. maritima and over 50% of the root segments of C. cathartica. The colonization frequency of C. globosum was found to be 5%–12.5% in seeds and increased up to 40%–64.4% in seedlings or mature plants. Halosarpheia sp. was the only marine fungus recovered among the endophytes.Key words: sand dunes, coast, legumes, Canavalia, diversity, endophytes, fungi, Chaetomium globosum.

Seedling desiccation tolerance of Leymus racemosus (Poaceae) (wild rye), a perennial sand-dune grass inhabiting the Junggar Basin of Xinjiang, China

2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenying Huang ◽  
Yitzchak Gutterman
Keyword(s):  
Desiccation Tolerance ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
Sand Dunes ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Junggar Basin ◽  
Seedling Development ◽  
Ecological Implications ◽  
Leymus Racemosus ◽  
Seedling Desiccation Tolerance ◽  
Dune Grass

Leymus Racemosus, The Mammoth Wild Rye, Is A Rhizomatous Perennial Grass, Mainly Distributed In The Moving Or Semi-Stabilized Sand Dunes In Deserts Of The Junggar Basin In Xinjiang, China. The Revival Ability Of The Young Seedling After Periods Of Desiccation Can Be Influenced By Several Factors: (1) The Stage Of Seedling Development – The Later The Stage At Dehydration, The Longer The Root Length And The Lower Is The Percentage Of Seedlings That Survive; (2) The Length Of The Period Of Desiccation – The Longer The Period That The Seedlings Are Under Desiccation, The Lower Is The Percentage Of Seedlings That Survive; (3) Endosperm Size – The Smaller The Proportion Of Endosperm That Remains In The Caryopses, The Lower Is The Percentage Of Seedlings That Revive, Determined By (A) The Stage Of Seedling Development, And (B) The Proportion Of The Endosperm That Is Removed By Cutting; And (4) Caryopsis Size – The Larger The Polymorphic Caryopses, The Higher Is The Percentage Of Young Seedlings That Revive From Periods Of Desiccation. The Physiological And Ecological Implications Of L. Racemosus Seedling Desiccation Tolerance Are That Under Extreme Desert And Unpredictable Environmental Conditions, The Chances Of Seedling Establishment Are Increased.

scholarly journals Plant species extinction debt in a temperate biodiversity hotspot: Community, species and functional traits approaches

2011 ◽  
Vol 144 (5) ◽  
pp. 1619-1629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Piqueray ◽  
Emmanuelle Bisteau ◽  
Sara Cristofoli ◽  
Rodolphe Palm ◽  
Peter Poschlod ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Extinction Debt ◽  
Species Extinction
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